M grout



March 10, 1964 K. M. GROUT 3,124,276

PRESSURIZED DISPENSER HAVING DISPOSABLE CARTRIDGE Filed June 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI INVENTOR.

KENNETH M. GROUT BY ZW WwW,

ATTORNEYS K. M. GROUT March 10, 1964 PRESSURIZED DISPENSER HAVING DISPOSABLE CARTRIDGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1961 Min/7 01?.

KENNETH M. GROUT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,124,276 PRESSURIZED DISPENSER HAVING DISPOSABLE CARTRIDGE Kenneth M. Grout, 25 Forest Road, Wakefield, Mass. Filed June 5, 1961, Ser. No. 115,023 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-483) This invention relates in general to fluid dispensing apparatus and more particularly pertains to a device containing a liquid under pressure which is dispensed through a sensitive control valve.

The invention is directed broadly to the dispensing of various types of fluids and is especially pertinent to operations where a liquid is dispensed in small quantities, as in drops, under the manual control of an operator. Where many such manual operations are to be performed, it is important that the dispenser be readily manipulated without unduly fatiguing the operator. It is an object of the invention, therefore to provide the dispensing device with a valve which responds to a small amount of applied force and yet permits relatively precise control over the amount of material issuing from the dispenser.

The invention resides in a structure which is loaded with the material to be dispensed by inserting a liquid filled disposable cartridge in a chamber having a dispensing valve at one end and a check valve at its other end. After the cartridge has been inserted in the chamber, the chamber is charged through the check valve with a gas until a specific pressure is obtained in the chamber. The liquid in the cartridge is forced by the gas through the valve, when the valve is opened by the operator, into a hollow needle. The dispensing valve is constructed so that the valve is opened by forcing the free end of the needle to an off-centered position. Due to its construction a small amount of pressure is adequate to open the valve and the bore of the needle is such as to restrict the flow of liquid through it to rates which permit the operator to easily control the amount of liquid emitted from the needle. The dispenser is self-contained in that once charged with liquid and compressed gas, the dispenser can be used free of any connections to sources of compressed gas or liquid reservoirs. When the liquid in the cartridge is exhausted, the dispenser is recharged by replacing the exhausted cartridge with another liquid filled cartridge and again pressurizing the chamber with a gas. The cartridge may be manufactured at such low cost that they are simply disposed of when their contents have been exhausted.

It is contemplated that the invention will be used to dispense plastic materials such as epoxy resins, polyurethanes, and polyesters, which are characterized by a relatively short polymerization period. Generally, those materials are tacky; that is, they tend to be adherent and coat the surfaces with which they are brought into contact. Upon polymerization, the plastic materials harden. It is desirable, therefore, after a cartridge has bean exhausted, to clenase the dispenser preparatory to the use of another cartridge holding an incompatible material. To this end, a cartridge containing a solvent is inserted in the dispenser and the solvent is forced by a compressed gas through the valve and the needle to purge all traces of the previously dispensed material. After purging, a cartridge containing a different material may be employed without fear of contamination by the material previously dispensed.

It is known that moisture hastens the polymerization of plastic materials such as epoxy resins and polyesters. To retard polymerization of the plastic material, therefore, the gas used to pressure the chamber is preferably a desiccated inert gas such as argon. Dry air may also be used as the gaseous pressurizing substance. Further to retard the polymerization of the plastic materials, the cartridges and the dispenser itself may be stored in a refrigerator until needed. When it is realized that the time required for the plastic materials to polymerize usually does not exceed a day, the importance of retarding polymerization can be better appreciated.

The invention, both as to its construction and mode of operation, can be more fully understood from a perusal of the following exposition when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts the external appearance of a dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior details of the dispenser; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the components which together constitute the dispenser.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the dispenser is seen to comprise a metallic body 1 having the form of a hollow cylinder. One end of the cylindrical body is closed off by a check valve constituted by a valve housing 2, a valve seat 3, a ball 4, a helical spring 5, and a spring retainer 6. The valve housing 2 has a peripheral groove for receiving an O ring 9. The valve housing 2 is provided with internal threads which mate with the external threads of the retainer 6 whereby those two parts are held together to provide an interior chamber in which valve seat 3, ball 4, and spring 5 are enclosed. Both valve housing 2 and spring retainer 6 have central apertures communicating with the interior chamber. Spring 5 is disposed in retainer 6 and forces the ball against the valve seat. With the ball seated, the valve is closed since the ball seals off the aperture in the valve seat.

The check valve assembly fits tightly within one end of cylindrical body 1 and is held in place by a retaining ring 10 which engages a groove in that end of the body. In order to prevent the pressurized gas within the body 1 from leaking out around valve housing 2, an O ring 9 is disposed about the periphery of the valve housing and forms an effective seal between that housing and the body 1.

The opposite end of hollow cylindrical body 1 is closed off by a dispensing valve having a hollow needlelike nozzle 12 whose enlarged end 13 fits within an annular Washer 14. The dispensing valve also includes a circular diaphragm 15 having a central aperture therein, a grid 16 which is constituted by a perforated disc, helical spring 17, a nozzle body 18, and a nut 19 having both internal and external threads. Nozzle body 18 is provided with internal threads which engage the external threads of nut 19. When screwed together, the nut and nozzle body enclose a chamber in which are disposed grid 16, diaphragm 15, washer 14, spring 17, and a portion of nozzle 12. Nozzle body 18 is provided with an aperture through which the shank of nozzle 12 protrudes. Helical spring 17 surrounds that portion of the nozzle which is within the chamber and bears against the enlarged end of the nozzle. The enlarged end of the nozzle, consequently is compelled to press diaphragm 15 against grid 16. When the diaphragm is pressed against the grid, the diaphragms central aperture is masked by the solid central area of the grid.

The material to be dispensed is contained in a cartridge 20 having a flange 21. The cartridge is closed by a cap 22 having perforations in it of such size that the viscous material in the cartridge is unable to pass through the perforations whereas a gas encounters little difficulty in passing through the cap. The cartridge is preferably fabricated of a material such as Teflon. When assembled, as shown in FIG. 2, flange 21 is clamped between the end of body 1 and the interior of nut 19. The compressive force of that clamp upon the deformable flange results in a pressure tight seal being formed. The flanged end of the cartridge terminates in a neck which has a port in it permitting the material to flow out of the interior of the cartridge into the dispensing valve. The cartridge preferably fills about three quarters of the space in the interior of body 1, the remaining one quarter of that space then being filled with a pressurized gas introduced through the check valve. The pressurized gas forces the material in the cartridge through the port into the dispensing valve. The material under pressure enters the apertures in grid 16 and exerts force against diaphragm 15. On the other side of the diaphragm 15, the enlarged end 13 of nozzle 12 exerts an opposing force against the diaphragm due to helical spring 17 being compressed between the enlarged end and the nozzle body 18. The two opposing forces are adjusted so that the pressure exerted by spring 17 causes the dispensing valve to be normally closed.

Forcing the free end of nozzle 12 to an olT-centered position causes the enlarged end to pivot at a point on its periphery. That pivotal movement is sufiicient to relieve the force of spring 17 acting on diaphragm 15. The pressure on the opposite side of the diaphragm forces the diaphragm to follow the pivotal movement of the nozzles enlarged end, thereby causing the diaphragm to pivot away from grid 16. Thus, the central aperture in the diaphragm is unmasked and the material under pressure is forced through the holes in grid 16, through the diaphragms central aperture, and through the nozzle 12. The nozzles interior diameter is such that the material cannot flow through it at a rapid rate and the hollow nozzle restricts the efllux of the dispensed material. The amount of material being dispensed is easily controlled since releasing the nozzle 12 from its elf-centered position causes spring 17 to return the diaphragm 15 to the position where its central aperture is masked by grid 16, thus shutting off the flow of material.

The initial charge of gas inserted into the interior of the dispenser should be under sufficient pressure to cause all the material in the cartridge to be dispensed without requiring another pressurizing recharge.

The external appearance of a dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention is depicted in FIG. 3. That dispenser is provided with knurls as it is intended to be used manually.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing a viscid material, such as an epoxy resin, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

a hollow housing adapted to be internally pressurized;

a nozzle body having in it a dispensing valve;

a cartridge for containing the material to be dispensed,

the cartridge being impermeable to the contained material and having a flanged end terminated in a neck having a central port permitting efilux of the material in the cartridge;

the housing and nozzle body having cooperating means removably securing the dispensing valve to the housing with the flange of the cartridge clamped between the housing and the nozzle body form a pressure tight seal and the major portion of the cartridge being within the housing;

the neck of the cartridge fitting closely adjacent to the nozzle body whereby material issues from the cartridge directly into the dispensing valve;

a check valve secured to the housing, the check valve when unseated permitting the interior of the housing to be pressured;

and the other end of the cartridge being permeable to the pressurized medium in the housing.

2. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing valve comprises, a grid having openings therethrough, a diaphragm having a central aperture, a nozzle having a passage extending longitudinal through it, the nozzle having an enlarged end, and a helical spring disposed about the nozzle, the nozzle body providing a chamber in which the enlarged end of the nozzle is disposed, the nozzle body having an aperture therein through which the nozzle protrudes, the helical spring being compressed between the interior of the nozzle body and the enlarged end of the nozzle whereby the enlarged end forces the diaphragm against the grid, the central aperture of the diaphragm being aligned at the enlarged end of the nozzle with the nozzles central passage, the grid being arranged to mask the central aperture in the diaphragm when the diaphragm is forced thereagainst, and the material to be dispensed being forced by the pressure in the housing through the openings in the grid and against the diaphragm to exert a force thereon counter to the force exerted by the compressed helical spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,991 Hurt Feb. 1, 1910 1,715,335 Cocks May 28, 1929 1,723,070 Payson Aug. 6, 1929 1,959,815 Corcoran May 22, 1934 2,183,013 Davis Dec. 12, 1939 2,351,751 Fruin et al. June 20, 1944 2,689,768 Falligant Sept. 21, 1954 2,823,953 McGeorge Feb. 18, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3 l24 27 March 10 1964 Kenneth M., Grout It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 8, before "form" insert to line 22, for "longitudinal read longitudinally -=-=-g Signed and sealed this 7th day of July 19640 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A VISCID MATERIAL, SUCH AS AN EPOXY RESIN, THE DISPENSING APPRATUS COMPRISING: A HOLLOW HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE INTERNALLY PRESSURIZED; A NOZZLE BODY HAVING IN TI A DISPENSING VALVE; A CARTRIDGE FOR CONTAINING THE MATERIAL TO BE DISPENSED, THE CARTRIDGE BEING IMPERMEABLE TO THE CONTAINED MATERIAL AND HAVING A FLANGED END TERMINATED IN A NECK HAVING A CENTRAL PORT PERMITTING EFFLUX OF THE MATERIAL IN THE CARTRIDGE; THE HOUSING AND NOZZLE BODY HAVING COOPERATING MEANS REMOVABLY SECURING THE DISPENSING VALVE TO THE HOUSING WITH THE FLANGE OF THE CARTRIDGE CLAMPED BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND THE NOZZLE BODY FORM TO A PRESSURE TIGHT SEAL AND THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE CARTRIDGE BEING WITHIN THE HOUSING; THE NECK OF THE CARTRIDGE FITTING CLOSELY ADJACENT TO THE NOZZLE BODY WHEREBY MATERIAL ISSUES FROM THE CARTRIDGE DIRECTLY INTO THE DISPENSING VALVE; A CHECK VALVE SECURED TO THE HOUSING, THE CHECK VALVE WHEN UNSEATED PERMITTING THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSING TO BE PRESSURED; AND THE OTHER END OF THE CARTRIDGE BEING PERMEABLE TO THE PRESSURIZED MEDIUM IN THE HOUSING. 